Chapter 11 Spicy Chicken, Pickled Pepper Chicken Gizzards...

Upon hearing this, the Lin couple could no longer laugh; Lin's face froze.

Qiao Mancang asked, "We don't even know when this happened. Did a real estate agent come to look at the house?"

“No one has come to see the house. It’s someone my eldest brother met while he was doing business. He heard that my family had a house that was empty, and he thought my eldest brother was reliable, so he signed a contract with him. He will move in after he finishes his business,” said Zhang’s youngest son. “Since he trusts our family so much, my eldest brother asked me to come and repair the house, since no one has lived there for two years.”

It was also to leave a good impression on the other party, since he came from Bianjing City. His elder brother repeatedly told him to make sure that the repairs were done well.

With the matter settled, Qiao Mancang sighed helplessly. Lin Shi, unwilling to give up, asked how much money she had made so she could have a better idea of ​​the outcome.

"That's a bargain, only nine hundred taels. If it were sold to someone else, it would definitely cost a thousand taels of silver." As Zhang's youngest son spoke, he smelled a strong aroma of braised food. "Hey, whose family is making braised food? It smells really good!"

His stomach growled twice, and he was busy bringing people over to repair the house, without even having breakfast.

Qiao Mancang said politely, "My family runs a braised food business. You haven't eaten yet, have you? Why don't you come and try some?"

“Okay,” Zhang’s youngest son nodded.

Lin was in no mood to greet anyone and went into the kitchen with a gloomy face. She had bought this house for only six hundred taels of silver, but now it could be sold for a thousand taels.

Even if the family income increases, they can only save a maximum of four hundred taels of silver a year by tightening their belts and living frugally, without eating meat.

With her two daughters growing up and still no dowry prepared, Madam Lin was even more troubled.

Porridge was cooking on the stove. Qiao Mianmian cut some fatty meat and stir-fried it with pickled mustard greens, adding two green chilies. After the aroma was released, she and Lin couldn't help but cough.

"You silly girl, don't you think chili peppers are free?" Lin muttered.

Qiao Mianmian sensed something was wrong with Lin's tone, "Mother, are you unhappy?"

“I’m so worried. I was thinking of renting the house across the street for your eldest brother’s wedding. But the owner sold it without a word, and for nine hundred taels of silver. They said it was a cheap sale, otherwise it would have been a thousand taels. Look at our house, there are only three rooms in total, and one of them has already been partitioned. We can’t possibly partition your eldest and second brothers’ room as well.”

As Lin spoke, she felt more and more like sighing, and at the end she did not forget to add, "Don't tell anyone else about this, not even your grandmother."

"I understand, Mother." Qiao Mianmian paused. "Actually, you can consider what Second Brother said. Our family can set up a small food stall, starting small. It won't require much capital. Think about it, if you want to save money, the source of income is far more important than cutting expenses. Give it a try. What if we can earn a hundred taels of silver a month?"

Lin'an is a prosperous place, and now it is a time of peace and prosperity for the country, so the people are very particular about their food and drink.

"It's not that amazing! I'd be incredibly grateful if I could earn ten extra taels of silver a month." Although she said this, Lin was tempted, but she still couldn't make up her mind.

Qiao Mianmian knew she had to proceed gradually. The Lin family's idea of ​​saving money was deeply ingrained, so she had to take it one step at a time.

She carried the stir-fried pickled mustard greens and shredded pork out and saw a stranger in the living room. Her father asked her to serve a plate of braised pork offal, and she realized that the person across the hall was the original owner of the house.

Breakfast at home is simple: a bowl of stir-fried pickled mustard greens, a bowl of braised pork offal, a bowl of porridge, and a sweet potato for each person.

Qiao Mianmian saw her second brother put the sweet potato in his pocket and knew that he didn't have enough to eat, so she broke off half of hers and handed it to him, saying, "I can't eat anymore, second brother, can you eat some for me?"

"I can't eat now, I'll eat later." Qiao Jiaxing was greedy, but he wouldn't try to get food out of his sister's mouth. "Father, Mother, Grandfather, Grandmother, I'm going to work." If he was late, the foreman wouldn't hire him, and he wouldn't have any work to do all day.

Lin Xiahe and Qiao Jiawang had finished eating. One of them went to deliver braised food to Chunxilou, while the other went to the kitchen to get busy.

Zhang's youngest son ate half a bowl of braised pork offal himself, but he still managed to control himself. "I'm so sorry, it was just so delicious that I didn't realize I ate a little more. Auntie, please pack me three bowls so I can take them back for my parents to try. I really didn't expect that in just two years since I last came here, Mianmian has become such a great chef."

As he spoke, he let out a burp, took out some money, and placed it on the table. He was either freeloading or buying something; his family ran a business, and he wouldn't be so shameless as to refuse to pay.

"Oh, I'm glad you like it. Don't be so polite with your aunt." Lin said with a smile, and accepted the money.

After seeing off Zhang's youngest son, it was time for Qiao Mianmian to set up her stall. She had been setting up for a while now, and even if she arrived a little late, there were always regular customers waiting for her.

Luo Da was one of them. "Hey young lady, do you only sell braised food?"

"Right now we only have braised food. If business gets better in the future, we might open a small food stall," Qiao Mianmian said while packing up the braised food.

“If you opened a food stall, business would definitely be good. My son loves your braised dishes, but he gets tired of eating them every few days and needs a change.” Luo Dadao said.

Lin, who had come to set up a stall with him, took Luo Da's words to heart and wavered once again in her decision to set up a food stall.

Here, Qiao Mianmian and her daughter are selling braised food at a stall, while the rest of the Qiao family are washing pig offal by the river.

Qiao Mancang didn't sell meat today; he brought braised pork offal instead. With Lin Xiahe's help, Zhang Shi didn't come, and Qiao Youfu went to fish with his net.

As noon approached, Lin Xiahe finished cleaning the pig offal, and Qiao Mancang was about to carry it back when Wu Ermao happened to pass by.

"Uncle Qiao, let me help you carry them." Wu Ermao skillfully took the load. "Do you wash so many every day?"

Qiao Mancang nodded and said, "Er Mao, why have you been staying home so much lately?"

“There’s nothing to do in the barracks. We go to train in the morning and go home in the afternoon when it gets hot. I’m going home now and I just happen to be passing by the river. Why are you carrying things so far away?” Wu Ermao found it difficult to carry the load.

Qiao Mancang said there was no other way, "We have to wash it downstream, otherwise people will talk if dirty things flow down upstream."

The two of them chatted in front, while Lin Xiahe carried a basket and walked behind. After a while, Qiao Jiawang came running up.

"No need, I can do it, it's just a few steps." Wu Ermao didn't give up the load to Qiao Jiawang, but Qiao Jiawang glanced at his father and took the load from him anyway.

"Let Jiawang carry it; he's got plenty of strength." Qiao Mancang walked to the alley entrance but didn't go home; instead, he went to the market.

Wu Ermao and Lin Xiahe walked behind. He glanced at Lin Xiahe quickly and asked, "Xiahe, I heard you're not going to the embroidery room anymore?"

"Hmm." Lin Xiahe walked a little faster. Once inside the alley, she was surrounded by neighbors, and everyone was watching.

"Then you'll help out at home?" Wu Ermao didn't know what to talk about; the more nervous he became, the less he could think of anything to say. After he finished speaking, he realized that everything he said was nonsense.

At this moment, Aunt Wu came out of the house and called out, "Er Mao, there's no water in the house. Go and fetch two buckets of water."

She glanced at Lin Xiahe, and after her son arrived home, she frowned and said, "Don't get so close to Xiahe in the future. You are the head of the household, and you are the most powerful person in our alley. I have already asked a matchmaker to find you a wife, and I'm sure I can find you a daughter from a wealthy family."

In Aunt Wu's view, she only has one son, and now that he's successful, she needs to find him a wealthy family. As for the Qiao family, they're a decent family, but their financial situation is too meager.

In the past, she would have been willing to marry into the Qiao family, but not now.

"Mother, didn't I already say I don't want to get married so soon?" Wu Ermao's face darkened. "Besides, I'm just a centurion, not a chiliarch. You want me to marry into a wealthy family? They wouldn't even look at me!"

"Nonsense, you're young and have military merits, only a blind person would look down on you." In Aunt Wu's eyes, her son was the best, and no one was good enough for him. "Alright, go fetch water, I bought a chicken and will make you chicken soup."

Wu Ermao went out with a sullen face. As he was about to fetch water, he saw the widow Wang from next door come out smiling. He called out to her, "Auntie," but the widow Wang just raised her eyebrows at him and hurriedly went to the Qiao family's house.

"Aunt Qiao, are you busy?" Widow Wang stopped at the door first, then went in with a smile. "Xia He, you are so hardworking. You are such a likable girl, beautiful and capable."

"Auntie, are you looking for my mother?" Lin Xiahe was plucking pig hair. The pig offal had been cleaned, and now she needed to remove the hair from the pork.

Widow Wang said no, "Auntie came to see you. You're good at embroidery, aren't you? I'm clumsy, so I wanted to ask you to help me make a dress."

Lin Xiahe used to take on needlework jobs from her neighbors to earn some pocket money, but now that her family is busy, she doesn't have much time for it.

However, considering that the family was short of money, she nodded in agreement, "Then Auntie, I'll go with you to take a look."

"Well done, your daughter is just so lovable. If I had a daughter as good as you, I'd be laughing in my sleep." Widow Wang took Lin Xiahe's arm and left.

Zhang glanced meaningfully at the doorway, then called her eldest grandson, "Jiawang, go to the market and see if they're sold out yet. Tell your mother to come back first and that I need to speak with her."

After Qiao Jiawang left, Qiao Youfu, who was mending fishing nets, said, "Why are you worrying so much? With the Lin family around, they won't let anyone suffer a loss."

"Qiao Youfu, you heartless bastard, have I ever caused you any trouble?" Zhang said, throwing the brush in her hand at him.

She never intended for her children to marry into wealth, but as an elder, she always wanted them to find good partners. The Wang family had five sons in total; the eldest was twenty-six this year, ten years older than Xia He. Widow Wang was quite calculating, not that she was a bad person, but after all, a widow raising so many children couldn't possibly survive without careful budgeting.

She knew that if Xia He married into the Wang family, her life would be even harder than in the Qiao family. Not only would she have to serve the whole family, but she would also have to find ways to earn money.

Qiao Youfu was beaten but dared not utter a sound and continued mending the fishing net.

Half an hour later, Qiao Jiawang returned carrying his load. Lin Shi and Qiao Mancang stepped over the threshold together. "You spoil her so much, buying whatever she wants. A chicken is expensive, and we're not suddenly rich!"

Qiao Mancang chuckled, "If Mianmian wants to eat it, then let's buy one to try. Look at you, you've gotten so thin lately from working so hard."

"Don't give me that. You two are just good at sweet-talking me. I'll only be truly happy if you can fill my purse to the brim." Lin snorted as she entered the room and went to her mother-in-law's side to ask what was wrong.

Zhang led Lin into the house.

Qiao Mianmian whispered to her father, "You're the best!"

"Go on, stop talking, or your mother will scold me again." Qiao Mancang waved his hand and sat down to help with the pig bristles.

Qiao Mianmian carried the chicken to the backyard and asked her older brother to bleed it while she lit a fire to pluck its feathers.

Today she plans to make spicy chicken. After the chicken is killed, she cuts it into small pieces and marinates it with cooking wine, cornstarch, and other seasonings for about ten minutes. While waiting, she cleans the chicken giblets and grabs a handful of pickled peppers to stir-fry with pickled pepper chicken giblets later.

After marinating the chicken, heat the oil and fry it until golden brown and crispy, then remove and set aside.

At this point, Qiao Jiaxing peeked out from behind the door, "Fifth Sister, what are you making today? It smells so good!"

"Second brother, could you bring some firewood in for me?" Qiao Mianmian recognized the voice but didn't have time to look at her second brother.

After frying the chicken, leave some oil in the pan. Qiao Mianmian took out her mother's treasured Sichuan peppercorns and stir-fried them with dried chilies over low heat until fragrant. Then she added scallions, ginger, and garlic cloves and continued to stir-fry until fragrant. Finally, she added the fried chicken pieces and seasoned them.

Finally, sprinkle some white sesame seeds on top, and it's ready to serve.

Qiao Jiaxing eagerly grabbed a piece. The chicken nugget was coated with a little chili oil. One bite revealed a crispy exterior and tender interior, bursting with juice. The freshness of the chicken and the spiciness of the chili blended perfectly. Because of the added sugar, it had a slightly sweet aftertaste, making you want to eat more after just one bite.

"Hurry up and take this out, I'm going to stir-fry chicken giblets." Qiao Mianmian chopped a large handful of pickled peppers; there were many people in her family, so more side dishes would be enough.

First, sauté the pickled peppers and ginger shreds in oil until fragrant, then add the marinated chicken giblets. This step requires high heat and stir-frying. Pour in the prepared seasoning mixture. It doesn't need to be cooked for long; just stir-fry quickly a few times and it's ready to serve.

The sour taste of pickled peppers whetted the appetite, and their glossy red color after being stir-fried in oil made Qiao Mianmian want to eat two bowls of rice just by looking at them.

Finally, I made a yam soup, which was light and refreshing, and went perfectly with the two strongly flavored dishes.

Qiao Mianmian carried the soup to the living room; everyone in the family was ready.

Qiao Jiaxing was the most enthusiastic, saying, "I'll go get the food!"

Lin was in no mood to scold Qiao Mancang for his extravagance; her gaze was fixed on her fourth daughter.

Meanwhile, across the street, Lu Zhao and his entourage came out after looking at the house.

Lu Zhao sniffed the air. Whose cooking smells so good?